Emirati mountaineer Fatima Al Awadhi has achieved a historic milestone for the Arab world after reaching the summit of Mount Vinson − the highest peak in Antarctica.
Ms Al Awadhi is the first Arab to reach the 4,892-metre summit at the age of 18 and the achievement marks the third major peak in her bid to climb the highest mountain in each of the seven continents.
After summitting on Tuesday, she dedicated her achievement to President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation.
'Vastness and beauty'
Ms Al Awadhi, who endured temperatures dropping below minus 40°C, told state news agency Wam: “Mount Vinson is a huge step up compared to my previous summits. It is far colder and far more isolated, requiring a high level of self-reliance and mental strength.
“At first, Vinson’s challenges frightened me, but once I stood at the summit and looked out over a sea of ice pierced by sharp peaks cutting through the horizon, I realised the mountain did not make me suffer − it made me much stronger.
“I know I will return to Antarctica one day; I am completely captivated by the vastness and beauty of this continent.”
Polar focus
The Emirates Polar Programme puts Emirati scientists at the forefront of international research in Antarctica and the Arctic.
As President Sheikh Mohamed said at the programme's launch in 2023, the polar regions are sentinels of climate change, biodiversity and human resilience.
The programme began taking shape in 2022 and was launched in 2023. It has since moved from treaty accession to joint expeditions and active research partnerships across Antarctica and the Arctic.
